Transcripts and other documents submitted become the property of Oklahoma State University and will not be returned.

Only after receiving this information is your application complete with the Graduate College and it will be forwarded to the department for an admission review. Because of the amount of time it takes to review international credentials and send immigration papers (e.g., an I-20), international students should expect that the application process will take several weeks to be completed.

A Financial affidavit (Financial Guarantee or Confirmation of Financial Resources) is required for applicants expecting to be F1 or J1 visa holders prior to our being able to send an I-20. See the "Financial Statements" section for more information.

You do not need to complete the entire application at one time. You may begin the application, save it, and return to it later; however, the earlier you complete and submit your application, the sooner it can be reviewed.

To facilitate timely review of your application and ensure your application receives full consideration, please complete and submit your applicationat least 30 days priorto the program’s deadline to allow sufficient time for your letter of recommendation writers to submit their letters on your behalf. Applicants who submit their application without all required materials, such as transcripts, resumes, writing samples, should be aware their application cannot be reviewed until it is complete (application deadlines for your program can be found here). If your program does not have a deadline or preferred date listed, then your application must be complete with transcripts, other required materials and letters of recommendation present by February 1st for fall semester admission, July 1st for spring semester admission or January 1st for summer session admission.

The most complete and up-to-date status of your submitted application can be viewed by logging into your account (clickhere) and viewing the checklist. Please use this portal to check your application status (phone calls and emails to the Graduate College to check the status of your application will delay our processing of applications).

All applicants, including Oklahoma State University students, must upload a copy of their transcript for bachelor’s degree(s) conferred or pending and for any graduate or professional coursework or degrees. If you do not have a copy of your transcript(s), please obtain and upload these prior to finalizing your application.

Uploading your transcript with baccalaureate degree conferred or pending is most important to expedite review of your application. Submitting your application without transcripts will delay review of your application. However, please do not email or send copies of your transcripts to the Graduate College that you will upload with your application.

Each program determines their own admission requirements, and some include the submission of a test score such as GRE, GMAT, or MAT as part of those requirements. Prospective students should review departmental information or contact the department if they have a question about if an admissions test is required prior to investing in the cost of the test.

GRE Scores

If the GRE is required by the program, OSU's GRE institution code is 6546. No department code is required. All GRE scores are received electronically and shared with any program to which you apply.

AFinancial Guarantee (Confirmation of Financial Resources) is required for applicants expecting to be F1 or J1 visa holders prior to our being able to send an I-20 or DS-2019 to applicants offered admission.

Your application can be reviewed without uploading a Financial Guarantee. However, if you are offered admission, then not uploading a financial guarantee to your application for submission with your application will delay issuance of an I-20 or DS-2019. To upload your Financial Guarantee with your application, complete the Financial Guarantee form along with obtaining the necessary other required documents listed on the form, save these as pdf, .doc, .docx, .rtf, .txt documents, and upload the form and required documents on page 12 of the application.

Please be prepared to upload your Financial Guarantee with your application to ensure a timely issuance of your immigration documents.

OSU is a Research-Extensive University, and graduate students play a vital role in both its teaching and research missions. Over 1700 graduate students help finance their graduate education at OSU through employment as Graduate Teaching Assistants/Associates (GTA) and Graduate Research Assistants/Associates (GRA).

The use of “assistant” applies to master’s-level and “associate” to doctoral-level GTA and GRA appointments.

Graduate Teaching Assistant/associate (GTA):

A Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) must be admitted to and meet the requirements of the Graduate College, be fully admitted to a graduate program, enrolled, and be under the supervision of an appropriate graduate faculty member. In consultation with the supervisor, the GTA works to gain instructional skills and an increased understanding of the discipline. GTAs are provided a stipend and their primary responsibilities are to support the University's instructional mission. Services provided by a GTA may include: classroom or laboratory teaching; advising and mentoring of students; proctoring examinations; grading papers, homework, and/or projects; accompanying/coaching musical or vocal performances, providing artistic instruction or assisting with preparation and management of materials and programs that are utilized in imparting knowledge or in the instructional process; or providing other general assistance in the instruction process. A GTA may be assigned primary responsibilities in an extension, outreach, or service role for which those responsibilities support the instructional mission of the University. GTAs may not be given duties to support faculty research or those primarily clerical in nature.

Graduate Research Assistant/Associate (GRA):

A Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) must be admitted to and meet the requirements of the Graduate College, be fully admitted to a graduate degree program, enrolled, and be under the supervision of an appropriate graduate faculty member. GRAs are provided a stipend and their primary responsibilities are to provide general support to the University's research mission. These responsibilities may or may not relate directly to the student's thesis or dissertation. Duties of the GRA primarily involve applying and mastering research concepts, practices, or methods of scholarship. Services provided by a GRA may include: assisting faculty members in a research or creative activity; performing degree-related professional or administrative services that supports research, instruction, professional development, or outreach missions of the University; developing and evaluating instructional materials or curricula; or assuming responsibility for designated scholarly endeavors.

“Performing degree-related professional or administrative services” does not include jobs that are outside of the student's field of study.

All persons for whom English is a second language are required to present proof of English competency. However, an applicant who has or will have completed a baccalaureate or graduate degree from a college or university where English is the primary teaching language, and which is located in a country where English is a primary language, is not required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score. Note, however, that submission of an internet based TOEFL score may be necessary if employment as a graduate teaching assistant/associate is desired. Please refer to departmental information/websitefor any such requirements for employment as a teaching assistant/associate.

If required, an official TOEFL score of 79 (internet based test) or 550 (paper based test) is required to be submitted. The TOEFL institution code for OSU is 6546.

Alternatively, an official IELTS, academic stream, examination with a minimum overall band score of 6.5 will satisfy the English proficiency requirements for admission to a graduate program. Either examination must have been taken within the last two years.

Some departments require a score above the minimum 79/550 on the TOEFL or 6.5 on the IELTS. Note that submission of an internet based TOEFL score may be necessary if employment as a graduate teaching assistant/associate is desired. Please refer to departmental information/website for any such requirements for employment as a teaching assistant/associate.

Additional Course Requirements

Students who score at least 42 on the combined Reading and Listening portions of the internet based TOEFL, with a score of at least 20 in each section, are not required to enroll in any remedial coursework.

Students who score less than this on the Reading and Listening portions of the internet based TOEFL (irrespective of the score on the Written portion) are required to enroll in ENGL 0003 during their first semester. ENGL 0003 carries a grade of S/U and may not be used toward minimum degree requirements. Students must enroll in ENGL 0003 each semester until a grade of S is earned.

Students who score at or above the minimum score(s) on the Reading and Listening portion of the internet based TOEFL, but less than 22 on the Writing portion, are required to enroll in ENGL 4893* at some point in their studies. ENGL 4893* carries graduate credit and may be used toward minimum degree requirements; a grade of B or better in this course is required. Both ENGL 0003 and ENGL 4893*, as applicable, must be listed on the student's Plan of Study.

Students who have completed the IELTS, or the paper-based TOEFL have different requirements.

OSU policy requires all persons who are non-native English speaking to demonstrate an acceptable level of spoken English before being employed in an instructionally related capacity, including laboratory assignments. Graduate students who serve only as laboratory assistants (e.g., setting up and/or maintaining equipment) are not required to comply with the provisions of this section.

More information about the International Teaching Assistant (ITA) test can be found here.

A graduate certificate is an academic credential earned after completing a short program of focused study. Graduate certificate programs can serve both as a stepping stone onto more advanced study leading to a master’s or doctoral degree, or as a standalone educational achievement to assist an individual in their career.

The basic steps for a graduate certificate are the same as a regular degree program. You have to submit an application and fee, be admitted, complete the required courses, and submit the required graduation paperwork. A plan of study is required for a graduate certificate.

There are three forms that are required to be on file in your graduating semester. The first is an approved plan of study. If you find yourself beginning your graduating semester without an approved plan of study, please submit one as soon as possible. If you have an approved plan, review it carefully to see if a revised plan of study is necessary. The second form you must submit is a signed graduation clearance form. Third, you must submit an Application for Graduation with the Office of the Registrar. These forms and processes are the same as for a student earning a regular graduate degree.

Yes. The online plan of study is the only approved way to submit a plan of study for a graduate certificate. However, only students that have been officially admitted to a graduate certificate will have the option to create a certificate plan of study. The online plan of study uses current matriculation information from Banner Self Service to ensure accuracy.

All graduate certificates require a minimum of 12 graduate credit hours, but each program has its own specific requirements. Please refer to the website for the specific certificate program you are pursuing for curriculum information.

You do not have to already be admitted to a graduate degree to apply to a graduate certificate program. Many graduate students at OSU decide to earn a graduate certificate when they are already partway through a regular degree program. Some graduate certificates are tied closely to a degree program, while others are standalone.

Yes. We relax the normal restrictions on double-counting courses for graduate certificates. Any and all courses applied to a certificate at OSU can still be applied to a graduate degree program at OSU. For example, a graduate student could complete the fifteen credit hour Graduate Certificate in Global Issues while completing the thirty-three credit hour Master of Science in International Studies without going over thirty-three total credit hours if they planned the programs prudently.

A person may be admitted to the Graduate College as a non-degree seeking student if he or she does not have immediate plans to become a degree candidate, but wants to take graduate courses, prerequisites, or other courses. Admission to the Graduate College as a non-degree seeking student means only that the student will be permitted to enroll in courses through the Graduate College. It does not imply that the student has been or will be admitted to a program leading to an advanced degree or that the student will be able to obtain a graduate degree from OSU.

A non-degree seeking applicant can be considered for admission "Without Qualification" provided his/her overall GPA is 3.00 or higher for all courses on his/her bachelor's degree transcript and/or transcripts from his/her graduate work. An applicant whose GPA does not meet this criteria can be considered for admission after consultation and recommendation of the Graduate College’s non-degree seeking student adviser who may consider additional factors in making a decision, such as

Length of time since last attendance at an institution of higher learning,

A written appeal from the applicant explaining exceptional circumstances that warrant admission, and/or

A letter of recommendation written by faculty who can speak to the applicant’s potential for graduate work.

Generally, International students with an F-1 visa, except students on OPT or OCT, may not be admitted or enroll as non-degree seeking students.

Transcripts and other documents submitted become the property of Oklahoma State University and will not be returned.

All applicants, including Oklahoma State University students, must upload a copy of their transcript for bachelor’s degree(s) conferred or pending and for any graduate or professional coursework or degrees. If you do not have a copy of your transcript(s), please obtain and upload these prior to finalizing your application.

Uploading your transcript with baccalaureate degree conferred or pending is most important to expedite review of your application. Submitting your application without transcripts will delay review of your application. However, please do not email or send copies of your transcripts to the Graduate College that you will upload with your application.

All persons for whom English is a second language are required to present proof of English competency. However, an applicant who has or will have completed a baccalaureate or graduate degree from a college or university where English is the primary teaching language, and which is located in a country where English is a primary language, is not required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score. Note, however, that submission of an internet based TOEFL score may be necessary if employment as a graduate teaching assistant/associate is desired if admitted into a degree seeking program later and some graduate programs require a score above the minimum 79/550 on the TOEFL or 6.5 on the IELTS for admission.

If required, an official TOEFL score of 79 (internet based test) or 550 (paper based test) is required to be submitted. The TOEFL institution code for OSU is 6546.

Alternatively, an official IELTS, academic stream, examination with a minimum overall band score of 6.5 will satisfy the English proficiency requirements for admission to a graduate program. Either examination must have been taken within the last two years.

Additional Course Requirements

Students who score at least 42 on the combined Reading and Listening portions of the internet based TOEFL, with a score of at least 20 in each section, are not required to enroll in any remedial coursework.

Students who score less than this on the Reading and Listening portions of the internet based TOEFL (irrespective of the score on the Written portion) are required to enroll in ENGL 0003 during their first semester. ENGL 0003 carries a grade of S/U and may not be used toward minimum degree requirements. Students must enroll in ENGL 0003 each semester until a grade of S is earned.

Students who score at or above the minimum score(s) on the Reading and Listening portion of the internet based TOEFL, but less than 22 on the Writing portion, are required to enroll in ENGL 4893* at some point in their studies. ENGL 4893* carries graduate credit and may be used toward minimum degree requirements; a grade of B or better in this course is required. Both ENGL 0003 and ENGL 4893*, as applicable, must be listed on the student's Plan of Study.

Students who have completed the IELTS, or the paper-based TOEFL have different requirements

The prospective student is responsible for filing a new application for admission to the Graduate College should he or she wish to become a degree-seeking candidate. The new application will be evaluated by the graduate program and the dean of the Graduate College to ascertain admissibility to the degree program.

As such work is not guided by a Plan of Study or approved by a faculty adviser, no more than nine semester credit hours of course work taken while a non-degree seeking student may be used on a Plan of Study to meet requirements for a graduate degree or certificate program. In addition, only three semester credit hours of course work taken while a non-degree seeking student may be used on a Plan of Study toward an MBA degree. Non-degree seeking students may not enroll in more than nine hours of courses eligible for graduate credit without permission of the dean of the Graduate College or his/her designee. To ensure that non-degree seeking students do not inadvertently exceed this limitation, an enrollment hold will be placed on each student in this status after the student has registered for six or more hours. This hold may be removed by the Graduate College once the student has formally re-acknowledged this nine-hour limitation.

Non-degree seeking students are subject to the same academic regulations as those graduate students admitted into degree programs. Such students are strongly encouraged to consult with the instructor of any course in which they intend to enroll in order to ensure that they are adequately prepared for that course.

Non-degree seeking students may not enroll in thesis (5000) or dissertation (6000) courses.

Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for fellowships, assistantships, and tuition waivers

Academic advising for nondegree-seeking student is provided by an adviser in the Graduate College.

Students taking classes through the Stillwater campus or distance learning can contact the Graduate College at 405.744.6368 or gad-i@okstate.edu.

Students taking classes at OSU-Tulsa can contact the OSU-Tulsa Graduate Student Services Center (GSSC), located in Main Hall 1101. To schedule an appointment with a GSSC representative call 918.594.8445 or email osutgssc@okstate.edu.